Sliding door.



No. s37,|04. Patented Nov. [4, I899.

J. EWALD.

SLIDING 0003.

(Application fll ed Apr. 27 1899.)

(No Model.')

- hanger therein. By providing braces or cleats zen of the United States, residing at Fairchild,

consin, have invented certain new and useful UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JULIUS EWALD, OF FAIRCHILD, WISCONSIN.

SLIDING DOOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,104, dated November 14, 1899. Application filed April 27,1899. Serial no. 714,739. remodel-i To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JULIUS EWALD, a citi-.

in the county of Eau Claire and State of Wis- Improvements in Sliding Doors; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in sliding doors; and its object is to provide a door which will be easyin operation and of simple construction.

To these ends the invention consists in providing a track of novel construction forming a race for balls loosely mounted thereon, said balls supporting a hanger secured to the door.

The invention also consists in the further novel constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred form of my invention, and in which-'- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a door suspended by my improved hanger and track. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof with one section of the track removed. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section through the track and hanger therein, and Figs. 4 and 5 are elevations of modified forms of hangers.

Referring to said drawings by letters of reference, A is the track, which is formed of two sections, one of which, a, is preferably turned upon itself at its upper edge, as at a, and adapted to overlap the upper edge of the second section a of the track. Each of the sections of said track is provided on its inner surface at a point intermediate its height with a ridge or shoulder A, while the lower portion thereof is arc-shaped in cross-section, as at A the lower edges of these sections a a forming a slot a The sections of the track A are adapted to be held in proper position upon the frame of the door, preferably by means of bolts or screws b, placed at regular intervals along the upper edges of said sections, and end caps B may be provided to hold the ends thereof in proper relation to each other and to limit the movement of the B, as shown, the said track-sections may be made of extremely light metal, said cleats serving to strengthen the'same at points in termediate their length.

Between the track-sections a a are placed balls 0, of suitable material, which are of greater diameter than the width of the slot (1 and therefore rest upon each side of said slot. These balls are loosely mounted in the concaved portions A of the track and are adapted to supporta hanger of peculiar construction. Said hanger is provided with a hanger-bar D, which in cross-section is similar to an inverted T, the edges of the lower horizontal portion (1 thereof riding beneath the ridges orshoulders A", thereby preventing any upward movement of the hanger, while the vertical portion d projects upward intermediate said shoulders. The lower portion d of the bar bears upon the balls 0 and has extending downward therefrom at each end and at its center an arm E, which projects through the slot a and is provided with suitable brackets for attachment to the door. In Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown the end arms provided with in wardly-turned brackets E and the central arm with oppositely extending brackets E all of which are suitably secured to one of the faces of the door in any suitable manner, as by screws E In Fig. 4, however, I show the end arms provided with downward extensions 6, which are secured to the edges of the door, While the intermediate arm is substantially of the shape of an inverted T and is secured to the upper edge, as shown. This form of hanger is especially adapted for partitions.

. As the balls 0 are loosely mounted upon the track, they will permit the hanger to freely move thereon, and as each ball is confined between an end and the intermediate arms the door will be balanced thereon at all times.

The movements of the door can be rendered practically noiseless by making the balls of rubber or other suitable material.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modified form of hanger. In said figure the hanger is shown formed of two similar sections F, each provided with two downwardly-extending arms F and each adapted to ride upon one ball.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of my invention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as" fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a door, of concavoconvex track -sections forming a concave track-surface on either side of a slot, balls mounted in said concaved portions and upon the downwardly-projecting edges of said sections, said sections permitting longitudinal, but not lateral, movement of the balls, and a hanger bearing on the balls and projecting through the slot, said hanger secured to the door, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the door, of the track-sections, a shoulder upon the inner surface of each section, balls confined between, and bearing upon, said sections and having longitudinal, but not lateral, movement therein, a hanger mounted on said balls and prevented from moving upwardly by said shoulders, an upward extension on the hanger mounted between the shoulders whereby lat eral movement, or swing, of the hanger is prevented, and downwardly-extending arms on the hanger secured to the door, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the door of the track-sections forming a slot, each of said sections concaved and shouldered upon its inner surface; braces for strengthening and supporting said sections at points intermediate their length balls mounted within said sections and adapted to travel upon the lower edges thereof; a hanger bearing on said balls and prevented from moving upwardly by said shoulders; downwardly extending arms on said hanger, secured to the door, and any two confining a ball adapted to freely travel therebetween, for the purpose and substantially as described.

4. The combination with the door, of the track-sections forming a slot; a shoulder upon the inner surface of each section; balls bearing upon said sections; a hanger mounted upon the balls above the slot and having an upward extension between the shoulders, said shoulders serving as stops for the broadened base of the hanger and to prevent upward movement thereof; and downwardlyextending arms on the hanger secured to the door, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

ANDREW STENSAAS, HENRY MCBAIN. 

